The Racers Grand Prix 2021 has been cancelled because of the continuing prevalence of the COVID-19 epidemic, organisers said today.

In a recent letter to World Athletics, Glen Mills, chairman of the organising committee of the annual track and field athletics meeting, cited the fact that the severity of the illness in Jamaica has got more acute in recent months.

“The gradual re-opening of sporting events has been reversed; tight restrictions on gatherings have been reimposed; and new guidelines are being issued by the government almost on a weekly basis.  Against this background, planning has become next to impossible,” Mills said in his letter.

The Racers Grand Prix had its first staging in 2016.

Last year, World Athletics rewarded the success of the Kingston-based meet by making it a part of its Continental Tour at the Gold level.

The meet is usually held in early June at Jamaica’s National Stadium and in the past it has attracted the participation of many of the world’s leading athletes including stars like 400m world record holder and 2016 Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk, eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, six-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, Olympic champion Mo Farah and 800m Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha.